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Mark your calendars, Washington. Eastern Market's official reopening has been set for June 26, as D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty announced yesterday. It's been a little over two years since the historic building was ravaged by fire. A temporary structure was eventually built to house the market's vendors while a $22 million renovation project began on the building itself.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on will kick off the reopening on Friday, June 26, followed by a community celebration on Saturday, June 27. Vendors will start moving back in to the building on Sunday, June 14, but the outdoor farmers market will continue as usual over the weekend of June 20-21.
Along with restoring Eastern Market to its pre-fire state, a few upgrades were included in the renovations.
The market will have modern heating and air conditioning, new restrooms and sprinklers and access ramps to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The skylights and chimneys have been restored and new windows have been installed that protect against ultraviolet (UV) light. The North Hall will include a movable stage and gallery walls, a demountable dance floor and theatrical lighting making it attractive for community and rental use.The reopening will also mark the conclusion of a new streetscape in front of the market. The Office of Property Management (OPM) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) worked together to minimize disruptions and complete projects simultaneously. The new street includes upgrades of the roadway and roadbed and installation of new brick sidewalks, granite curbs, utilities and lighting.
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So what are they going to do with the temporary building? Because I'm looking for a venue to host a sexy foam party. And if we use the anti-bacterial stuff, we can probably get rid of that funky smell. Or at least have the cleanest rats this side of Dupont Circle.
Cool beans. I hope they reopen the street too. The stores there say they've been taking a hit. It would suck if they closed. I need my Tortilla Cafe pupusas!
They announced that they're going to keep 7th Street closed on weekends. A real business killer. The merchants hate it. The shoppers hate it.
The only people who support it are the folks standing around not shopping - and Councilmember Wells.
Free 7th Street!!!
Actually, as a resident of the neighborhood, we love having that portion of 7th closed on the weekends. It creates an actual outdoor market atmosphere. People can enjoy what Eastern Market has to offer without having to worry about cars trying to squeeze through crowds of people.
How could it be bad for the businesses on 7th to have a thousand people strolling around in front of their stores? That makes zero sense.
I agree, I love having the street closed on weekends. Not to offend any neighbors, but venders who complain are crazy, and they are blaming a downturn since the market burned on the street.
And I still ask, who the f*ck drives to Eastern Market and parks there!? There is a metro two blocks away, and the weekends are crowded beyond belief, what freak would actually drive! Who says I would go to Eastern Market and eat at Tunnicliffs, but since I can't drive and park immediately in front of the restaraunt, fuck it... There are thousands of parking spots, in front of thousands of houses, all around. Can those 10 or so spots really be worth it? Walk!!
Use 6th, dick!
Um, there's no parking on 6th, dick!
fine, 8th, whatever! park a bit farther and lug your goddamn trinkets!
Here, here! Dicks use 6th!
I never understood why folks didn't want that street closed on the weekends. It seemed to make so much more since. It's not like you could find a place to park there before anyway. Personally, I thought that closing the street made Eastern Market a MUCH more enjoyable place to shop. If I remember correctly, the parking spots on 7th were taken up by vendors trucks on the weekend anyway so shoppers were never able to park there to begin with. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
The vendors want 7th open, not because it provides spaces for customers, but (as NotTheRedBaron) because they use it as a parking lot for delivery vehicles.
One could make the argument that not having convenient parking for vendors will make the process more inconvenient to them, thus hurting business, but it has nothing to do with parking for the general public.